Author's Note: hello readers! sorry I haven't written in a while, I've been quite busy. Anyway, please read and review; I want any feedback or opinions about my story. Thanks!

Fairytaledreamer

The morning dew dropped from the lush green trees as the spring air flowed freshly through the forest. Happily, a full grown rabbit bounced up and down through the brush. It kept going until it felt rustling in the bushes nearby.

Freezing, it listened to every sound and movement thereafter. Its faint heart raced with fear as to what the noise could have been. Then, before it could react, a beast pounced on the defenseless animal.

Wolf had a fire going by the time Leora came back. Proudly, she held up the dead rabbit, "I've got breakfast!"

Looking up at her prize, Wolf laughed a little and nodded, "Sure, that'd make a great appetizer."

"Thanks, I-" but Leora stopped, realizing he had just insulted her hunting, "You don't think this is worthy enough for our actual meal?"

"Well," Wolf sighed as he pulled out a couple of huge hunks of meat from the fire, "Compared to the boar I stumbled upon as soon as you left, yes, I think the rabbit isn't as filling as the pig!"

"Oh," Leora threw the rabbit aside and sat down on a stump stubborn, "Sorry, I haven't had as much experience as you have. I can't help that my food is prepared for me by famous chefs every morning! So yeah, you're the better hunter; I'm still the richer sibling!"

Wolf rolled his eyes and tossed her a part of the pig, "Cripes."

Leora took two pieces of bread from her bag and made a pork sandwich out of the meal. Ravenous, she began to gorge down the delicious snack. However, she noticed her long bangs kept getting in her way every time she lowered her head into the sandwich. She desperately tried to flick them back, but they were more stubborn than she was.

Agitated, she merely held her head back as she finished her sandwich. Wolf watched this with great pleasure, and as soon as he finished the meat, he remarked, "So, what made you get the haircut anyway?"

Leora looked over at him surprised, "You've failed to compliment my new hairdo this entire time, and now you decide to casually bring up the fact that I got it, not complimenting it as well, but merely asking why I got it and expect me to be cool with that?"

He plainly shrugged and scratched the side of his head, "Well we haven't had the opportunity to bring it up before what with all the arguments and fighting! I couldn't have if I wanted to!"

"Humph!" Leora folded her arms around her knees childishly; unsatisfied with his answer even though she knew he was right.

Rolling his eyes, Wolf growled impatiently, "Well? Why did you get the haircut?"

Leora pinned her eyes on him infuriated, "Because I didn't want to be recognized by anyone on the road out to the swamps; you knew I would try to disguise myself somehow!"

However, Wolf stood, putting out the fire, "Oh please! I've been reading you since the day we met and I know now that you always, always have a deeper meaning to anything you do to in your life. That's an excuse for your real answer!"

Leora rose from the ground and slung her pack behind her, "Alright Dr. Phil; if you're so sure you know me that well then why don't you give me the "real answer"? Come on; down let the cat get your tongue!"

Wolf shot his sister a look; she knew how much he hated cats. Looking her up and down, he nodded, "Okay."

He went back over to where he had been sitting and put on his navy coat, "You wanted change."

"Ha! Anyone could give that bull sh-"

"I wasn't finished!" Wolf interrupted temperamentally.

Leora held her hands up in annoyed defense and let him continue.

He slid his fingers through his long black hair, calming himself from her irritability, "Your new hairdo is a symbol of your newfound strength; you want to prove to Damien, me, your friends, the entire kingdom of how you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. You want to show them all you are as much of an independent ruler as your mother was."

Leora thought about his words over in her head, "Oh,"

"I'm still not finished!" Wolf pointed an irate finger in her face, "Because of this symbol you've made apart of your life, you will become consumed with it, and that's not a good thing. You'll come to believe that you have to go out and fight each obstacle that comes into your path; believing you are the only one who can defeat it since you haven't in the past. Soon, you will create problems that aren't even there, just so you feel the need to fight for your freedom."

However, Leora didn't understand, "What are you saying?"

Both heated and worried, he faced her with open arms, "Leora, what if it turns out that Radford didn't cast a spell to make you barren? What if there are no magic, potions, or spells that are causing your problem? What if you found out you could never have children because of yourself? Could you bear to even think about that?"

All at once, Leora didn't like listening to Wolf, "No."

She turned and stared again on their course. But Wolf followed her with determination, "Leora, just consider it."

"No, because it's not true!" she hollered back.

"You have to come with terms that it could be-"

She turned and gave him an evil look, "Leave me alone! I don't want to hear this!"

Angrily, he ran up ahead of her and grabbed her forcefully, "I'm starting to believe that if you don't hear this than you'll always be this way!"

"And what way is that?" she snapped back.

"Always blaming your problems on someone else! Lori, I love you; I don't want to see you fall into ruin because of your own doing!"

"Let me go!" Leora fought him angrily.

"No, please listen!"

But she wouldn't. Finally, Leora forced out a free hand and hit Wolf hard across the face. He shifted backwards a little, surprised by the blow. Leora watched him feel his face. A little bit of blood was on his hand. She looked and saw that she had scratched him a little bit at the side of his face near his ear.

Lowering the wicked hand, Leora felt Wolf's cold stare. But she couldn't crumble to pieces. Not now, not ever. She knew she was right about Radford. It was her only option. Convincing herself that nothing had happened, she wisped around Wolf and marched onto the swamps.

"We're losing valuable time; we have to keep moving," she ordered grimly.

Unsure of what do to, think, or even feel, Wolf let go of the mark she had left and followed her mechanically through the damp forest.

Sitting up in her room eating chocolate, Reena enjoyed the quiet afternoon. Aden was off preparing for war with the troops that were already showing up. She could barely peer out of her window to make out all of the tents set up just across the front lawn of the fortress.

Suddenly, there was a pleasant knock at her door. Reena gasped, what was Virginia doing here?

"Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

Virginia took off her blue sweater and came over to Reena's beside with a smile, "Here to make good use of myself. I want to be here in case anything happens and I'm needed; for anything."

Reena looked around, "Well, what about little Wolf; did you bring him?"

"I thought it'd be best if he stayed with some of our close neighbors back in our kingdom. I'm positive Wolf would kill me for doing that and then coming here, but hey, if things get bad, we'll just escape through the mirror back to New York. I won't leave my boy without a mom; I'm too familiar with that feeling."

Reena nodded, passing Virginia the box of chocolates. Virginia eyed the morsels, and quickly took one, not having had a piece in what seemed a long time.

"This is incredible! Where did you get it?" she asked, enjoying every bite.

Reena picked out another piece and replied, "Oh, Aden picked it up for me in the 2nd Kingdom. That kingdom's known for its superb bakers!"

Virginia got up and went over to the open doors to the balcony, overlooking the vast land stretched before her. She watched as men gathered together to put up tents and practice with each other. She saw not only men, but also elves, dwarves, and even wolves.

Sighing, she folded her arms, "Wolf would've loved to have seen this. Other wolves fighting for the right cause."

Reena put the chocolates away and replied, "As would Lori."

Looking back at the Queen in pink robes, Virginia asked, "Do you think they'll make it out okay?"

Pondering, Reena nodded, "I know they will. For some strange reason, I have a gut feeling Leora will even be here when I'm delivering my baby."

Virginia walked back to her, stunned, "You can sense that?"

Reena shrugged, "That or it could just be the pregnancy talking!"

"I don't like the fact that she's staying here! Blimey I'm such a sucker!" Aden spilled to Damien in the King's tent outside the castle, telling him about his problem with Reena.

"Don't worry, if anything does happen, she can escape through the magic mirror to the 10th Kingdom," Damien replied feeling much more rested and confident.

"Speaking of the 10th Kingdom," Wendell came into the 10th, "I'm back from it, and with some company!"

Tony entered the tent, still wearing jeans and a brown sweater, "Heya boys. How's it hangin?"

"Tony!" Damien heartily shook his hand, "We're glad to have you here, you represent the 10th Kingdom well!"

"Ha, the lower-class hard working man that doesn't get anywhere. So yeah, that's about accurate!" Tony noticed.

Jenkins opened the tent entrance and approached Damien, "My Lord, I have just been informed that the last of our army has arrived. Your troops are ready."

Damien nodded and tapped Jenkins's shoulder. When his servant left, Damien put on his black coat and placed his sword in sheath.

Looking over at the others, he smoothed out his coat and cracked his neck, "Well gentlemen, here goes what could possibly be the first and last speech I ever make!"

Wendell followed Damien out of the tent and patted him on the back, "You'll be fine Charming; as long as your wife isn't here to embarrass you!"

And Tony followed Wendell chuckling a little, "Yeah, remember the time she set part of her dress on fire? Ha, now that is a moment I'll never forget! Trust us Damien; you're gonna be great."

They walked out of the tent, and the massive army cheered in excitement. Aden watched through the tent as Damien stood up on one of the wooden tables to speak. They were barely a day away from war and Aden was growing worse with fear and distress for his king. Damien was going to die tomorrow. Aden tried to shake the premonition from his mind, but it was impossible.

Damien looked as far as his deep blue eyes could see at the enormous field of men and other creatures all cheering at him together. As the noise died down, Damien held his hands nervously. Feeling his wedding ring on his finger, he looked down at the sapphire stone shining back at him. Calmly taking a breath, he closed his eyes, and then looked out towards the crowd.

When he began to speak, everyone listened intently. Damien's words flowed through each and every one of the soldiers' souls. Wendell, Tony, and Jenkins were all shocked. None of them knew he could speak so well. But Aden did. He watched from the partially opened tent, content with his friend's words. When Damien came close to the end, Aden dropped his head and shed a tear.

Finally, Damien finished and the crowd was in pure silence. Slowly and magnificently, Damien unsheathed his sword and held it high in the air. Then, he ascended the table and went around greeting the soldiers. Aden watched Damien smile and take pride in the company of the creatures and men. Suddenly, the king felt eyes upon him, and looked Aden's way. Sincerely, Damien bowed his head slightly towards the wizard. Aden returned it, smiling honorably. The golden age was over.